Steven Isbell - Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN

Professor: Steven Isbell

Department: Economics

College: Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON2010
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Not a difficult class. Required minimal effort and he works for everyone's benefit in calculating final letter grade. 89 can be an A based on average class grades. Uses math to explain some concepts, no way of getting around that with this course. Overall not difficult east to get a high B a smidge of studying can get you an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class is difficult. He wants you to get help from other students using discussion boards. He is a tough grader and there are only 3 grades for the entire class. Be prepared to watch outdated videos from 2013 that will not help much on the assignments. Good luck!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is my only C on my whole college career. He's class is difficult, I don't recommend.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON3810
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Isbell is passionate about Microeconomics, so he was outstanding at teaching this course! He taught in a way that made everything very understandable and easy to follow. Homework due just about every week, but not too difficult. His jokes make class go by faster, but he can easily go on tangents. Would definitely take him again!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

One of the hardest classes I've ever taken, class is hard to understand. Get with a group if not you won't pass the class, a lot of learning on your own. The only good thing is that it really makes you think

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I've had Isbell three times (different classes) and would be glad to have him again. Far and away the best lecturer I've had for any class in college. Absolutely hilarious, too. His earlier courses tend to be harder because he only does tests for grades, but his later courses are very easy. Also, he once threw a piece of chalk in a student's mouth

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Absolutely unacceptable. This is a graduate level class. The videos are old, so all he has to do is post them, but he doesn't even do that timely. All he has to do is grade papers, and he's not even doing that. So basically, we get cheated out of work time for each assignment, AND we have no idea what our grade is!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor and his partner made lecture videos years ago and are able to sit back and collect a check. Grades slow and feedback not given in time to help for the next assignment. Final paper was due and still had not received grades for two previous assignments. This is a core class so unfortunately you can't avoid this.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON3610
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Agree. Unclear expectations and grades veeery slowly. Avoid him if you can.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Unclear expectations, grades slowly so expect to get most assignments back at the end of the semester.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class is tough, but considering that it's an MBA class it is supposed to be more challenging than the average undergrad course. Assigns 5 homework assignments and the final one is one 10 page paper. But he allows you to collaborate with other students on ideas for the homework. If you work hard enough, you can get an A in the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This is a MBA level class, and it is difficult, especially if you have no statistics background or Excel training. He puts videos online that are helpful, but not always enough to help you understand. But he does not make himself available for help or feedback. You will have to work hard to do well in this class. He does not help much.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Absentee instructor, essentially. Late postings, late feedback.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class was tough. The homework was tough also. He needs to lighten up on his grading.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He tells you from day 1 that the class is difficult and it is. His lectures don't always match with homework. He also only has 4 test grades for your average, so bombing one really brings you down. If you study really well, go to help sessions, and/or do practice problems. Also, USE THE STUDY GUIDE. He rewords questions, but they ask the same stuff

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He does not care about his students at all and does not do anything out of his way to help them. He does the minimum to get paid, and it is very annoying. He definitely does not have the heart of a teacher. Maybe he had it at one point, but he's all bureaucratic business now.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Difficult course and he makes it more difficult, he tells you that at the first day...

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON6050
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very slow to give feedback.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great professor, difficult course. But even though it was difficult, I would definitely take it again - from him. Anything that is not clear he is glad to clear up, and he wants you to do well. PRO TIP: GO TO THE HELP SESSIONS! They are great, and even if you don't have a specific question, it makes things clearer.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON2020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

hard class, nice guy and funny but fair